Rail-joint.



J: W REYNOLDS.

RAIL JOINT.

APPLICATION FILED. APR. 23, 1912 ggg Patenteaauly 3o, 19127- fr j f a Attorneys UNTTED RATE-30.31B T.

Application ied April 23, 1512.

To all 'tv/10m it may concern Beit known that I, JAMES W. REYNOLDS. a citizen of the United States1 residing' at Chester, in the county of Thayer and State of Nebraska. have invented a new and use ful 'Bail-Joinhof which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to rail joints, and has for its object to provide improved means for joining or connecting the ends ot' joining rails, so as to provide a substantial joint.

Another object.v of the present invention is to provide a rail joint wherein the rails may have a longitudinal inoven'ient relative to each other in order to compensate tor expansion or contraction of the rails.

lilith the foregoing and other objects in view, which will be ajriiparent as the invenA tion is better understood, this invention resides in the novel Construction and eoinhination ot parts hereinafter set forth and particularly pointed out in the appended Claims, reference being had to the aeeoinpanving drawings. wherein the invention is illustrated and wherei1ne Figure l aA side elevation of the rail joint. Fig'. 2 is a p lan view thereof. Fig 3 is a perspective iew of the various parts of the rail joint separated. and 5 are sectional views taken onthe lines and of Fig. 2, respectively.

Referring in detail to the drawings, wherein siinilar reference characters have been employed to denote corresponding parts, the adjoining rails are designated by the letter R, each ot the rails consisting of the usual tread T, web lV, and the base flange -F. The adjoiningr rails have their ends eut diagonally as designated by the nume al the ends ot the diagonal or oblique portions T extending beyond or even with the outer faces ot' the webs TV. and the treads T and the base iianges F being cut laterally to the edges thereoi", whereby the projecting ends 8 and l0 ot' the treads T and the flanges F abut against the shoulders 10 and ll ot' the opposite treads and ilanges. In this manner, the adjoiningl rails are seart'ed so that. the various surfaces of the tread, weband flanges are flush, the various corners or edges being rounded in order to prevent the act-ion of Speeication of Letters Patent.

Serial Ho.

the vif-heels over the tree-d from battering; .or otherwise injuring the corners 'formed by' the The overlapped portions oit the webs lil' are p ivined with outer bosses or enlargethese enlargements being eo-eirtenii the scart and extending between and treads oic the rails.Y iron tish plates are provided the ends of the rails together, and these i i plates provided with upper and lower longitudinal ribs 'i2 along the inner sides oi their upright portions.' The s ribsl i, ri provided intermediate their end with out away portions i3, the. ribsbeing?,- admY to Contact with the of thel the end portions of the ribs and away portions lfl beineT adapted to the bosses The eut-away portions i3 arr longer than bosses t5 in order io peru the rails to nove lonxeitudinaV v within the iish plates without disturbi the position ot' the fish plates relative tf eaeli other. .ln this manner, the upri portions oi the lish plates between the ribs arE spaced troni the bosses (S as Well the wens oi: the rails, whereby the ribs of tact solelv vwith the webs ot the rails and with if bosses (i. The upright portions ot' the plates also tit tightly in under the treads ot the rails and the outer flanges the e:

the i'iange ot the rails. The fish plates are 'fled with outer iianges lr6 in the e portionsl li, these iianges 16 be.- ed with spike-reeeiving notches l 7, plates are provided with bolt which are adapted to register fed bolt openings i8 through the rail, and the bolts B a're passed thron h respective openings l5 and "ilin or( to clamp the fish plates in position against the rails, l

in rzietiee, the iish plates Si are seated on the ties and are seeured thereto by means oi spikes engaging in the notrhesxliof the flanges 16, Whielrwill prevent the longi tudinal or other movement of the fish plates j thereover smoothly,

clamp the overlapped portions of the webs tive to each other and to thetish plates due to the contraction and expansion of the rails, but ity will be noted that when the adjoining ends of the rails are clamped together by the fish plates, the bosses 6 being received within the cut-away portions 13 of the ribs 12 will prevent the rails from being drawn out-of the iish plates. It will also be noted that' the upright portions of the fish plates between the ribs 12' do not contact either with the webs of the rails or the bosses 6 so as toy provide the proper clamping action.

A rail joint constructed in accordance with the present invention will be substantial so as to permit the car wheels to pass the present joint also being noiseless. This joint may be readily assembled or taken apart so as to connect or liberate the rails, and this rail joint is also comparatively simple in construction, as well as being eiiicient in its use. 4

It is understood that the various details are susceptible ofalterations in their di-4 members passing It will also be noted that a together and to hold the cut awayl portions 13 of the ribs 12 in contact wit-h the bosses 6. Having described the invention, what e is claimed as new is l. A rail joint wherein the adjoining rails are scarfed, "the overlappedportions ot thewebs having outer bosses, fish plates having ribs contacting with the webs andthe ribs having cut-away portions receiving the bosses, and securing means passing through the fish plates and the webs of the rails.

2. A rail joint wherein the adjoining rails are scarfed, the overlapped portionsof the web having outer bossesco-extensive with the scarf, fish-plates having ribs contacting with the webs and theribs having out-away portions receiving the bosses, and securing throughthe ish plates and webs of the railsv j.

3. A rail joint wherein the adjoining rails are scarfed, the overlapped portions of the web having outer bosses co-extensive with the scarf and extending between the treadsI and the flanges of the rails, fish plates having upperl and lower longitudinal ribs along their inner sides and contacting with the webs of the rails, the ribs having cut-away portions receiving the bosses and longer than the bosses,and bolts passedthrough the fish plates and the webs of the rails.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as.

my own, I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses. -r JAMES W. REYNOLDS. I Witnesses:

FRED. R. LEONARD, VILLIAM J. LEONARD. 

